European equities are expected to open lower after ECB and before US NFP.

European equities are expected to open lower Friday after investors were left disappointed by the measures announced by the European Central Bank.  The ECB cuts the base deposit interest rate by 10 basis points to -0.3% in an attempt to deal with the threat of deflation in the euro area, while maintaining unchanged the basic repo rate to a record 0.05 percentage points - the lowest level since the creation of the eurozone in 1999. The ECB was the first central bank in the world that dares time ago to introduce a negative deposit rate. QE-Program in volume 60 billion. Euros per month was extended, but not increased.

The euro rose sharply (up above 1.0970 against the USD) after closing the massive open on rumors of recent weeks "short" positions, and European shares fell on the stock market as investors were disappointed by the ECB.

The biggest even for markets on Friday are U.S. nonfarm payrolls for November, the last major data point to come before the U.S. Federal Reserve meets on December 15-16 and could increase interest rates.

A meeting of the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OPEC) is being closely watched Friday. Oil prices rise sharply, up 3 percent Thursday, buoyed by a weaker dollar and reports that Saudi Arabia could be ready to compromise on production levels with other non-OPEC producers.

Eurozone events today are 09:00 - German Factory Orders (MoM) (Oct), with expectations 1.2%; 12:00 - EUROZONE GDP (QoQ) (Q3) with expectations 0.3%.

G.Hristov / Head of Fundamental Analyzes